Testimonials

Field report SPS 2 in German - at Porto Seguro in Valinhos

1. Preparations for the 4 weeks internship in Brazil:
Right at the beginning of the summer semester 2019, i.e. in mid-April, I had the idea to do my SPS2 in German at a German school abroad. Therefore, together with my roommate, who studies the same subjects as me, I went to an info session of the International Office, where some things were also addressed and explained about shorter internships abroad as part of the SPS 2. We were advised there to read through reports on Moodle about the experiences of students who have already completed their SPS abroad. It has to be said that the university hardly helps you with the search for schools abroad and everything organizational has to be planned by yourself. My roommate and I decided that we would like to do the SPS 2 together at a school abroad. The very first thing I did was to write a motivation letter stating why I really wanted to do the internship abroad. I researched the website www.lehrer-weltweit.de/schulen/ for German schools abroad. On the site, you can find information about the schools and also the schools' websites, which you can then use to find out who to send the application to. At first, we planned to go to a school in Europe and therefore only wrote applications to European schools. But then, just to be on the safe side, we applied to many different schools around the world. Many schools dropped out right away because they only offered longer internships starting at 6 weeks or sometimes even 3 months or because the application period was already over. We planned to do the internship for 4 weeks in March 2020 and always wrote this period in our application. I can recommend everyone to apply as early as possible to the schools (at least a year in advance, if not even earlier), because most internships are already taken very quickly - especially at the schools in Europe, you have no chance with "short-term" applications. This was also the case with us. We received one rejection after the other. In May, I received an answer from the German school in Valinhos (Brazil). I had actually applied for the first unit of the school in Sao Paulo and was then asked in the mail whether I would also be interested in an internship in the second unit in Valinhos. Valinhos? I had never heard of it before so I googled the city and the school and quickly it was clear to me that I would accept. Valinhos is a city with about 130,000 inhabitants, which is about an hour away from Sao Paulo and about 20 minutes away from Campinas, a city with over a million inhabitants. When my roommate got the same message from the school as I did, everything was perfect and we could hardly believe our luck. As the next step of the preparations, I informed myself about the possibilities of a scholarship. For us, either the Shosta scholarship or the scholarship from DAAD came into question. So I applied for both. You have to pay attention especially to the application period. In the end, I received an acceptance from Shosta with a grant of 600 euros. After all, the money almost covers the flight costs. We booked our return flights to Sao Paulo directly after we had received the internship confirmation from the school in Valinhos. The flight provider Sta-Travel offered by far the cheapest flights, because there is a discount for students if you show an international student ID at the airport. If you didn't have such an ID yet, you could easily book it for 15 euros through StaTravel. Before the trip to Brazil, I only had to get vaccinated against yellow fever, because I already had the rest of the vaccinations from my semester abroad in Bali. I did not have to apply for a visa for the 4 weeks in Brazil. The school in Valinhos even offers the interns to stay with a host family for the time of the internship. If a suitable family can be found, then the accommodation is usually with families with children from the elementary school, with whom German will then be increasingly spoken at home. However, my roommate and I decided against a host family because the news that a family had been found came too late for us. One month before the start of the internship, we had already booked an accommodation through AirBnB, which I can also recommend to anyone who goes to Valinhos! In the winter semester 2019/2020, I then took the SPS accompanying seminar and could choose one of the three seminars offered, since foreign interns do not have to be supervised by the SPS leaders in the semester and only have to actively participate in the weekly accompanying seminar. During the semester break at the end of February 2020, we left for Brazil...

The 4 weeks of internship at Porto Seguro in Valinhos:
When we arrived at the airport in Sao Paulo, we were kindly picked up by the husband of the school's secretary. This made things a lot easier for us, since we neither knew the Portuguese language nor wanted to be mugged right on the first day. From stories of friends we had heard that the crime rate there is very high and especially tourists are mugged in cabs. We were then driven to our internship supervisor and greeted very nicely. He even drove us to the supermarket so that we could go shopping for the next few days. In Brazil, the supermarkets are always open from Monday to Sunday. Then he drove us to our AirBnB accommodation and translated us the briefing of the landlady. The accommodation was super nice and on a huge property with a pool. We walked to school every morning about 35 minutes. You could have always ordered an Uber for the equivalent of one euro, but we always liked to walk the way. Shortly before the school, we passed a restaurant chain that was always well attended. There was everything from a bakery with homemade cakes and pastries, to an iced coffee and a pizzeria with a lunch buffet. You could pay with Visa card everywhere there. Porto Seguro is an official excellent German school abroad and private school in Brazil and is known everywhere in Brazil. At the school there is a Curriculum A (Brazilian part) and a German speaking part (= Curriculum B). The B part is much smaller than the Brazilian part and there are classes 1-4 (elementary school), 5-8 (middle school), 9-11 (high school) and finally the 12th class (Abi class). Overall, the classes are all always very small, which allows for individualized and differentiated instruction. During our time at the school, we observed German classes for about 5-7 hours every day and were present in every class. The first lesson starts already at 7:00 and only after the 4th lesson at 10:00 the first half-hour break begins. Classes usually start about 5 minutes late because there are no breaks between classes and students and teachers have to change rooms. There are usually differentiation classes, where the German lessons are held according to the language level. The German books are also available in differentiated editions. The school day usually ends after the 7th period at 12:45 p.m. However, remedial classes and homework supervision are also offered every afternoon. The upper school also has afternoon lessons. After school we always walked back to our accommodation and cooked together in our huge kitchen or sipped a coconut by our pool. The families who send their children to Porto Seguro are almost all very wealthy, which is why in Valinhos you don't see much of the life in favelas and poverty. In addition, every teacher there told us that there is actually no crime in Valinhos, which reassured us a lot and why we then dared more and more often to take an Uber to Campinas or to a shopping mall on the weekend.

Conclusion:
Do I recommend an internship at the school? To the question whether I would recommend an internship at Porto Seguro, I can clearly say: YES!!! I really recommend the school to everyone. In retrospect, I would even say that I was lucky that I first received a rejection from the school in Sao Paulo and then an acceptance from the school in Valinhos. I liked everything in Valinhos so much, including the nature and the nice, helpful people, that I am really thinking about working as a teacher at the school for 3 years later. I could not imagine a better school for a longer period of teaching abroad. I was never disappointed at the school - on the contrary. I was often surprised how nice and helpful everyone was to us. From the very beginning, we were welcomed in a very friendly way by all our colleagues and were directly involved in the lessons. I also believe that there will never be such a good internship supervisor at any other school, who really takes care of every problem and always helps you with words and deeds. It's also super interesting to see how teaching is done at a German school abroad and how language problems are dealt with. If I were to go to the school again, I would definitely take a Portuguese language course beforehand, as this can help in many situations in and outside of school. In conclusion, I can say that my time at the school was an eventful and educational time that I would not want to miss and for whose experience I am very grateful. I think that now I can differentiate German lessons much better than before.

After I went to the information event about a semester abroad in sports, it was immediately clear to me that I definitely want to spend a semester abroad. When I learned that you can also independently of Erasmus of the University of Kassel, independently take care of a semester abroad and you will then also be credited for the courses, I first came directly to mind that I would prefer to go to a warm country and then bridge there the cold winter in Germany. After several hours of fascinated research on the Internet, in which countries a semester abroad in the subject of sports is possible, I came across the website of Study in Bali. Already when I read Bali, pictures of dream beaches and turquoise blue water, yoga and surfers jumped directly into my imagination. I read through everything carefully and then decided relatively quickly to spend the winter semester 2018/2019 in Bali and sent an online application to the team of Study in Bali. Study in Bali offers the course "Sports and Physiotherapy" as a 15-week program at the University Udayana in Bali's capital Denpasar (costs 1900 euros, but is also all in, such as tuition fees, excursions, etc.). I booked my outbound and return flight on the internet through Sta-Travel. There were by far the cheapest flights, because there is a discount for students if you show an international student ID at the airport. If you didn't have such an ID yet, you could easily book it for 15 euros through StaTravel. When I got the acceptance from the university, I was invited by Study in Bali directly in a Facebook group. With a few people who were also doing the same program as me (but some of them also in a different study program, e.g. architecture), I joined forces and we booked a villa in Canggu together for the 4 months. We were recommended to book an accommodation via the website www.auslandssemester-bali.de/Unterkunft. There you have the choice between many different villas in different areas on Bali, most of them even have a huge pool. For the accommodation I paid about 300 euros a month (which is also about the rent for a month in Kassel). In retrospect, I think I would have booked the accommodation only on Bali and booked only for the first few days any hostel, because you can really always find something on Bali, which you personally then like much better or is located in a more beautiful part of the island or you meet there at the university then people with whom you then get along super, with whom you can then look for something together. I myself have then also changed the accommodation after a little over a month and am then together with my best newly won friends from the university to "Damar Emas Guesthouse", where it was really beautiful! I can really recommend it to everyone. There was even its own laundry, where you had to put dirty laundry only quickly and for the equivalent of 1-2 euros the complete laundry was washed, ironed and folded and brought to the room. For what you should plan in any case longer time, is the application for the visa. The visa must then be extended in Bali itself every 30 days again, so a total of 3 times. I have also taken care in advance that I get foreign bafög. The effort for it is worth it in any case. I then got 1900 euros in foreign Bafög, which you do not even have to pay back as with normal Bafög. What you should do in any case is to get vaccinated (Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis).

At the end of August I flew to Bali and was picked up at the airport by a driver. This airport pickup service was provided free of charge by the organization. One of the first things I did in Bali was to rent a scooter. You can't do anything in Bali without a scooter! To be allowed to drive it, you have to get an international driver's license beforehand in Germany (at the road traffic office). When riding a scooter, it is important that you always wear a helmet, no matter how warm it is, firstly because of the safety (the traffic there is very chaotic at the beginning) and secondly because the police often controls and especially likes to pull foreign drivers out of traffic. That's why you should always have all your papers with you, because otherwise you have to pay a fine. This never happened to me, but a few fellow students even several times. On Bali you can really rent a scooter very cheap on every corner (about 40 euros/month and the helmet is also included). On 1.09 there was a welcoming dinner at sunset on the beach, where there was traditional Balinese food and you could get to know your fellow students. Two days later there was an orientation day at the university and after that the lectures started. There is a dress code for students at the university. You have to make sure that you don't wear flip-flops, that your T-shirt covers your shoulders and that your pants are above knee-length, but actually they were pretty relaxed about it and it was fine to go to the university in a top and Birkenstocks. The schedule looked like this (a few things like a seminar in Physical Health and Fitness at the gym every Tuesday were added). 

A day at the university starts with a half hour scooter ride to the university after breakfast. Most students do not live in Denpasar itself, but in areas along the beach. The lecturers there, held their lectures in English and were all very friendly and helpful. Around noon, we were mostly done with the lectures. A small part of the final grade is the regular attendance, which is checked every time. Part of the course was e.g. the Water-Sports-Course, which was held by a local surf school. We all also had a Bahasa Indonesia language course once a week, where we learned the most important words and phrases for communication. There we also had to give a short presentation in groups of three at the end of the semester. In another course, we talked a lot about sports in Indonesia and also worked on sports science topics, such as training principles, which we then had to apply, document and evaluate ourselves the next day in the seminar in the gym. We also discussed sports therapy measures in another seminar. Every Thursday was the excursion day. There we visited e.g. a yoga studio (once traditional and once yoga in hammocks), went rafting on a river, did canyoning, or went to a cross-fit studio. We also had several workshops (massage workshop, Bali Healing, surfboard workshop, etc.) where we always got a certificate of participation and attendance at the end. It was even possible to get our Open Water Diver certificate through the university on two additional days, which is the first level of diver training. Fridays were free, so there was always enough time on the three day weekend to explore the rest of the island and get to know the country better. In the middle of the semester there were also two weeks of vacation ("Midsemesterbreak"), which you could use to prepare for the upcoming final exams, but of course also to make trips to neighboring islands such as Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan. I flew to Java for a week during the two weeks and did several volcano tours there. At the end of the semester I traveled for another 3 weeks across the whole island and as a conclusion I was on the super beautiful paradisiacal Gili Islands, where you can dive with turtles. The Balinese are all incredibly friendly, always laughing people, even if they often do not have much material. I ate lunch and dinner pretty much every day in a warung (which is the name of the small local cheap restaurants/street stalls there). Mostly there is either rice or noodles with different vegetables and chicken. You get a huge portion for 20,000 Rupiah, which is a bit more than 1 Euro. For vegetarians and vegans Bali is a paradise! It is really always everything super delicious. 

Preparing for a stay abroad:
Since the beginning of my studies, I dreamed of spending a semester abroad. Gathering new experiences, spending some time abroad and improving my English skills at the same time, it doesn't get any better than that!
During my 5th semester at the Sports Institute, I informed myself about the possibilities to spend a semester abroad and the partner university in Newfoundland caught my eye. St. John's, Newfoundland, not only looked incredibly beautiful in pictures, but the experiences of my fellow students also sounded very good.
I started preparing about a year and a half before I started my semester abroad. Since I needed proof of English for the application, I took a preparation course for the IELTS language diploma and registered for the exam. To be able to study at a university in an English-speaking country, a language level of B2-C1 is required. With the help of the preparation course and reading English-language magazines, I was able to prepare for the diploma in the best possible way.
In December I applied for the program of the Sports Institute with the partner university "Memorial University Newfoundland" and already a few weeks later I got the acceptance from the Sports Institute and the university in Canada.
I decided to spend the fall semester in Canada because I could experience some warm days in Newfoundland and also the winter days in the snow. The application process and the direct preparations were less stressful than expected. Both the housing situation on site and the formal matters with the university in Canada went smoothly. This effort could be compared to the formalities one had to fill out in Kassel for the first semester. Selecting courses, creating a university account and finding a place to live. I applied for a room in the dormitory located on campus. However, it is also very easy to find an apartment or a room in a shared apartment near the university. Some fellow students even started looking on site and were still successful. Even if you get stuck, the staff at the International Office in St. John's is always ready to answer your questions and is very helpful.

Thetime in Canada
In order to explore the city, the campus and the area around St. John's, I flew to Canada in mid-August. Especially in August and September it is worth to plan some days to explore Newfoundland with its breathtaking coastline and beautiful hiking trails around the island. St. John's is about the same size as Kassel in terms of population, but seems much quieter and cozier, as the city stretches along the coast and is spread over quite a large area. Besides colorful wooden houses, cozy pubs, small natural harbors and large parks, you will find a
wild party mile, small cafes and restaurants, as well as small stores for a leisurely stroll. Just like the people, the city is incredibly friendly.
The university campus is located about half an hour walk from the city center and is also easily accessible by bus. Compared to Kassel, the public transportation is not as developed and unfortunately not included in the semester ticket, but it is sufficient to reach the most important destinations. Before I could move into my room in the dorm, I spent a few nights in an AirBnB and also used the only hostel on site. Already in the first days I noticed that the people in St. Johns are incredibly open and friendly, great conditions for a  semester abroad. Even the slight Newfoundland accent caused me hardly any problems. After one week, I was able to move into my room in the dormitory. The housing options on campus are divided into different buildings. If you are interested in a room on campus, you should inform yourself well in advance and consider which of the three buildings are the most suitable. In "Burtons Pond" you are accommodated in small shared flats and have a kitchen at your disposal. In the other two houses there are few cooking facilities and the rooms are shared. Here, however, one has the possibility to be catered for around the clock by the refectory or also "Dining Hall". I got a room in "Paton College" and a very nice room partner from Spain. In addition, I decided to be catered by Dining Hall. In hindsight, I have to say that the shared room and living in the college was a great experience. Dining through the dining hall saved a lot of stress in terms of cooking and shopping. The people in the dorm became a small family in a short amount of time and it is made very easy to get to know a lot of people quickly. However, one should be open to communal activities with the house community, such as loud parties on weekends. The showers in the hallway also provide little privacy. The location of the accommodation on campus has a very big advantage, because even in bad weather you can use the underground walkways for quick, warm and dry connections to the university events and the gym. After the first welcome events by the International Office and the university itself, things started right away. I took four sports events, of which only one was a practical course. All the lecturers were happy to have an international student with them and gave me a very warm welcome. All four courses were valuable in terms of content and helped me a lot. Especially giving a lesson in English was a new challenge for me and a very good experience. Linguistically, I had no problems even without studying English. I was able to hand in papers and essays without any problems thanks to the help of tutors. In general, students are expected to hand in many papers and even mid-term exams halfway through the semester. However, the amount of material is manageable. During the whole semester I was able to practice with the "Memorial Sea Hawks" athletics team. I was also able to use the gym and the university's own fitness center for free. I supported my dormitory at the university internal "Intermurals", small volleyball, soccer and frisbee tournaments. The International Office also offers welcome events, many projects and events where you can get to know the other "Internationals". On the weekends, we planned trips to the west coast with extended hikes in a large international group or met in the pub next to the university for a cold drink. 

Conclusion
In summary, I had an extremely beautiful and for me very valuable time in Canada. St. John's and Newfoundland are definitely worth a visit. Newfoundlanders are incredibly open and friendly and made me feel very welcome for the four months. Not only did I have great language experiences, but especially meeting new people and discovering a new culture is priceless. I can recommend everyone to take the chance and go abroad for a semester.

Preparation
Two years before I flew to St John's I started to develop my English skills. I took two courses at the university, learned about 650 vocabulary words, read a few books and listened/watched audio books and movies in English. Without this preparation, I wouldn't have been able to pass the Oxford test either, where you have to achieve a B2-C1. But my English was also not that good before. In any case, start in time, it's worth it.
For the application itself, you have to submit a letter of motivation. There you have to explain why a stay abroad will be beneficial for your personal development (learning English, getting to know another country, meeting new people, having access to other university courses, why you want to go to this university or this country, etc.). The registration with the university in Canada was then with me rather obscure and constantly one was with similar portals and needed however always somewhat different data etc.. So it's best to write down the link where a certain password or number worked. Unfortunately they also use multiple names for the same number, like Student ID is also Memorial Number or something, without mentioning that anywhere. Just click through and write to support, that will help you most of the time.
It is definitely recommended to go to St. Johns in summer. The city is the foggiest, windiest and rainiest/snowiest city in Canada. So it's really bad in the winter, especially if you don't have a car. In the summer, you can definitely bike everywhere. That's why you should get a bike through kijiji (that's the Canadian ebay classifieds). It's all very hilly there, but you can get in a good workout and as a sports student that shouldn't be a problem for you. Public transportation is unreliable and in the end more expensive than buying a bike for $100-$150.
Very important: Book only one outbound flight and in no case one return flight. Maybe you can't imagine it now, but you probably want to stay there as long as you can. Also, you can hitchhike/travel around North America for a bit and then fly back from another city. I stayed there for the vacations after my time in college and then hitchhiked 6800km to Vancouver, making a side trip to the states along the way. Hitchhiking and chouchsurfing is really cheap, but also quite adventurous. Seeing Detroit and Chicago is definitely an experience. But you have to take a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat with you.
The flights are not cheaper half a year in advance. Just go to "Skyscanner" and look for flights for tomorrow, in a week and in 4 months. If possible, book the flights through the airline directly and not through third-party providers. They are total data octopuses and it can cause unnecessary stress because then you just rely on that company and don't even get your booking number etc.

Living in St John's
Before you get there you have to decide if you want to live in the University Residents or rent your own apartment. The university dorms are relatively expensive for the size and they are very noisy. In Burton's Pond you are alone in a tiny room, but there are also houses where you share a room and then have to pay thousands of dollars for the Meal Plan (so you have to go to the canteen and also don't have your own kitchen). I would really think twice about that. But you have your room from the beginning and do not have to book AirBnB and then look for an apartment. And they are also centrally located at the university and it's easy to get to know people. I also had some friends in my house. However, you should not only hang out with international students, but also get to know locals.
You just have to see it as a task from the beginning to make many friends and have a good time. For me, it also took some time until I knew enough cool people. I met people through the house, the university, but also by just going to concerts, events and pubs etc. on my own. Sure, you sometimes meet people who aren't interested in getting to know you, but you can't let that encourage you. Most people are really nice and open and it is also normal to approach strangers just like that.
The culture is definitely something special in St John's as well. There is live music everywhere, even during the week. There are pretty much all music styles represented. Just ask people which pub is playing what. Black Sheep was in any case also jazz, CGBT's rather rock / punk, the Ship all sorts of things, Shamrock Irish folk (you have to give yourself). But there is much much more. Qidi Vidi Brewery is definitely cool too, but a bit off the beaten path. Just ask around, the locals know. George Street is always recommended and there is a lot going on, but the music and the people are pretty mainstream. But there you can also just have a look everywhere. More alternative is definitely Club Velvet, which is a gay club. Otherwise, there are just masses of house parties once you've met enough people, so make an effort to make as many social contacts as possible. That was definitely the total highlight for me just to have met so many interesting and nice people. That's why I miss my life and my friends there so much!
To do sports you should buy a bike and go hiking. So that you don't always have to hike a circular route, you can also hike one route and hitchhike the other. If you don't do that, you will need two cars and that is very rare. Hitchhiking, on the other hand, works pretty well. With the bike you can also reach many different places and just explore the island. Just use Google Earth or satellite images to explore exciting places. In addition, there is the Fieldhouse ("The Works"). There are gyms, basketball, badminton and swimming. In the Aquarena on the other side you can also swim, but you have to check the times, sometimes there are only people splashing in the water. Outside you can also play tennis if you have the rackets. In the summer you can even swim in the ponds!
For clothes and furnishings for the apartment (in the dorm I had nothing but the furniture at the beginning) you should visit the second hand stores. The Salvation Army Thrift Store, Value Village and Preloved Things are all on Kenmound road. They have clothes in all sizes even for men and you can also buy sports equipment there. Just go there and check them out, they are really wonderful stores. You really only have to go into the Avalon Mall to buy a sim card.
Don't let the bad weather discourage you. Just go out and hike or walk around town anyway. If you always stay inside when the weather is less than ideal, you'll probably spend a lot of time inside.
For shopping you can go to Sorbey's on Tuesdays, they have 10% for students. Otherwise Dominion is better though. Walmart is the cheapest, but 6km from the university on a mountain, so hard to get to. In general, food and alcohol are quite expensive, so be prepared for that. This is true for all of North America.
While you are there, you should continue to learn English, i.e. write down and learn vocabulary that you are missing or that comes up during the course of the university. This is very quick when you are there and will help your English a lot.
In general, you should not spend a lot of time just hanging around, but try to use every second. 4 months is actually too short, because you have only just settled in and then you have to leave again.
And be sure to study the economy, history and politics of St. Johns and the entire province. That's the only way you'll really understand what's going on there. Learn about the Cod Moratorium and the oil industry. But also learn about the history and oppression of the indigenous peoples. This is the ugly racist face of Canadian society.

The pictures are of course only exemplary of the nature and the city. The special photos will be of the experiences you have there and the people you meet. And again: Don't be discouraged at the beginning. It may seem gray and off-putting, but if you put in the effort, you'll find out what a friendly and welcoming place St John's is! I had the best time of my life there. Whether it will be the same for you depends on your motivation, openness and willingness to meet people and use your time efficiently!
If you have any further questions or recommendations, just write me: uk037820[at]student.uni-kassel[dot]de 

1. preparations for the stay abroad
I started with the preparations for my stay abroad about a year before departure. However, I already informed myself about my possibilities to go abroad beforehand and my choice fell very quickly on the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), because on the one hand it is a partner university of the Institute of Sport and Sport Science and on the other hand it is located in Canada, which was my desired country for my semester abroad. In addition, the university was recommended to me by fellow students who had studied in St. John's in previous semesters and who also actively supported me in all further preparations. In order to study in America or Australia, the TOEFL or IELTS test must be passed with a certain score. This test is only offered on certain dates and in certain places. I took the IELTS test at the University of Kassel, which offers two dates per year. In November I handed in my application documents, which consisted of a letter of motivation, the current performance overview and a list of desired courses at the foreign university. At the beginning of the new year I received the acceptance and the further organization could start. I had to enroll at the university myself, select courses and, of course, look for accommodation. For me, it was clear from the beginning that I wanted to live on campus in one of the student residences in order to experience Canadian university life. The different housing options can be viewed and compared on the MUN homepage. I also applied online, which went very smoothly and I also received an acceptance for a room a few weeks later, so I didn't have to worry about my housing situation anymore. Furthermore, I had to create a university account, which is very similar to the one at the university, and apply for a campus card. During these preparations, I had frequent contact with the International Office of the MUN, which helped me with all my questions and was always helpful and competent. However, I got the most useful tips from my fellow students who had already studied at MUN and therefore knew about almost everything. Therefore, I would always recommend to find students who have already studied at the university of your choice abroad, as they usually have a better picture of student life in the target country.

2 The stay abroad itself
2.1 Memorial University of Newfoundland and courses taken
The Fall Semester at MUN began in early September with an introductory week. Part of this introductory week included a campus tour, a welcome ceremony with numerous performances
by students and introductions to the various faculties, and much more. For exchange students, the International Office offered numerous information sessions and also events where exchange students could get to know each other. There was also a weekly Coffee Club and a Discussion Group to get to know other students.
Compared to German universities, the MUN campus is very large and spacious. Part of the campus is a huge sports hall with a gym and a range of sports courses. There is also a swimming pool on the grounds. For exchange students, the use of all these facilities is free and should definitely be taken advantage of. The central meeting point is the University Center with the famous Clocktower. There you will find numerous food options, seating, a small grocery store, the bookstore, the university's own bar, but also a variety of administrative contact points.
There is also a strong sense of community and identification with the university. Almost all students wear MUN clothing and attend the university team competitions and tournaments.
During the semester I took four courses, which sounds relatively little compared to Germany, but if you consider that all courses take place 2-3 times a week, it is a manageable amount of work for a semester abroad. It should also be noted that not only one exam is written at the end of the semester, but several quizzes, assignments, presentations and also exams have to be written or handed in continuously during the semester. Also, the courses are very practice-oriented.

2.2 Living on Campus: Burton's Pond Apartments
During my time at MUN, I lived on campus as previously mentioned. I chose to live in Burton's Pond Apartments. These are small apartments, each consisting of four individual rooms sharing a common kitchen-living room area and bathroom. The rooms are very small, but perfectly adequate for a semester. One thing to note, however, is that the apartments do not have any furnishings when you move in; neither plates nor a shower curtain. I was lucky and was able to take over used items from previous students, but even otherwise most everyday items can be purchased for small money. Within the dorm, many events were planned, such as movie nights, a running club, a batik workshop, and towards the end of the semester, a farewell evening with a meal together and a visit to the karaoke bar. In my dorm I met most of my friends, which were mainly other exchange students. Living on campus was a new experience for me, which I would definitely recommend to anyone. For one thing, the distances to the classes are short (especially in winter or in bad weather, which is unfortunately relatively often the case in St. John's) and you can spontaneously meet up with friends or do something.

2.3 Life and Leisure
One thing first: during the semester I was not bored for a single minute. St. John's has its own charm and especially downtown with its famous Jellybean Row Houses is worth seeing. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from MUN to the city center, but there are also buses (which are not always very reliable). In the immediate vicinity of the city center is a beautiful small harbor and Signal Hill, which offers a good view over the city. There are also numerous restaurants and the famous George Street should be visited. This street is lined with a variety of bars and pubs and in any case, the Screech-in should be completed. This involves kissing a cod, drinking a rum and repeating a sentence in Newfoundland (which is not the same as English) to become an official Newfoundlander. Canadian culture definitely includes attending a hockey game and cheering on the basketball team. A trip to the zipline near St. John's should definitely be taken as well, as it is the longest in North America and offers a fantastic view of the beautiful landscape.
Newfoundland is also a paradise for outdoor and hiking enthusiasts. There are numerous national parks and there is also a lake and forests right behind the university. Most weekends I rented a car with other exchange students, explored the island and stayed in Airbnb's. What takes a little getting used to is the weather. September was still very nice and sunny, but from October on it rained and stormed a lot and in early November the first snow fell.
The cost of living is higher than in Germany. This is mainly because Newfoundland is an island, so especially fruits and vegetables are much more expensive. However, Wal-Mart, Dollarama or Sobey's (on Tuesdays there is a 10% discount for MUN students) are also cheap places to shop.

3. conclusion
I can only highly recommend studying at MUN, because my semester abroad was (and will certainly remain) the best semester of my studies. Whenever I told people that I was doing a semester abroad in Newfoundland, most people just looked at me frowning, because only a few people know the island off the east coast of Canada. Exactly that
makes the place and also the people there so special. Newfoundlanders are probably the warmest, most helpful and funniest people I have ever met. But also with the other international students I have made friendships that will surely last for my life. Not only did I learn a lot from my classes, but also from studying alone in another country and being on my own. I was definitely able to improve my English as well. I learned so much, did so many things, played so many sports, met so many people, had so many interesting conversations and ate so much foreign food as I have never done before in my life and I will never forget my time in Newfoundland. If you have the opportunity, I recommend you to travel before your semester abroad to see more of the amazing Canada.
If you are now interested and have any questions regarding the application process or the study abroad program itself, please feel free to contact me. My email address is vanessa.wuertz[at]gmail[dot]com.

Preparations for the stay abroad
I spent the fourth semester abroad and already submitted the application to the International Office a year before, since the application period ended in mid-January. So I had a good year to prepare for my stay abroad, which is definitely enough to prepare for the semester abroad.

What I had to take care of in time was the preparation of my schedule for my third semester (WiSe) that I still spent in Germany. Because the times of the summer semester in Spain collide with the German winter semester, I could only take courses in the third semester in which it was possible to bring forward the respective exams. The summer semester in Valencia already starts at the end of January. Therefore, I contacted the respective professors directly when creating my schedule to discuss whether I could bring forward the exams. This was easier than I thought because most of the professors were very cooperative and didn't want to get in my way. Only one course I could not take because I would not have been able to complete the exam before my departure.

Finding housing and flights
I booked my flight in November through Ryanair and the prices are generally very cheap at this time of year. Once I had the flight booked solid, I slowly started looking around for an apartment share. For my apartment search I used among others the homepage Easypiso and Idealisto . In the end I found a flat through a fellow student who spent the winter semester in Valencia. My criteria for the search were Spanish flatmates and proximity to the beach and university. And indeed, I was able to find just such an apartment. My apartment was located at the Blasco Ibanez from where I could reach the university by bike in 10 minutes and the beach in 4 minutes. It takes about an hour to walk to the city center, but since I used the Valenbisi , which I would also recommend to anyone, I was in the city center in 17 minutes. Price-wise, my room was 260 euros cold and including utilities about 320 euros. The room itself was very small, but there was a large living room, a balcony and a large roof terrace. However, you can also find cheaper shared rooms starting at 160 euros. 

Language preparation and development:
Here I had no great effort before departure, because I study the subject Spanish and am familiar with the language for years. However, I was required to take an online language test. This has to be taken before and after the stay abroad and indeed my language level increased by one level. In Valencia, I also took advantage of the university's offer for Erasmus students and registered for the language course at Centro de Idiomas . This is a language course of 60 hours (4h/week) which cost about 60 euros. Besides the language skills I gained, I was also able to make close friends in this course.

Semester times and exam period in Valencia
As already mentioned, the semester in Valencia starts at the end of January, but ends on May 18. However, I have to add that the exam period starts two weeks later, i.e. at the beginning of June. In my opinion, it was more pleasant and stress-free to study that way. Some Spanish professors also offer additional exam dates for Erasmus students who prefer to fly back to their country at the end of May. In addition, you have the possibility to repeat each exam if you fail the first attempt. You fail if you get less than 5 points and the grading system consists of 10 points in total. Some professors also offer the possibility to improve individual grades.

Course selection and departments
I took Spanish courses through FB 02 as well as sports courses through FB 05. It should be mentioned that the majority of the courses have to be from the department that you applied for at the host university. In my case, this was FB 02. Accordingly, I took three Spanish courses and two sports courses as well as the additional language course. Regarding the distance, there were no difficulties here, since the two faculties are within 4 minutes walking distance. In the end, I took the apparatus gymnastics advanced course and the dance basic course through FB 05. Originally, I had signed up for the swimming course, but since it takes about 45 minutes to get to the indoor pool, I deselected this course in the third week and switched to the dance course. The course content in Valencia is very extensive and includes 4 hours per week (6 credits). Especially the gymnastics course was very time consuming. In addition to three unannounced exams, you had to submit weekly drawings for each class, as well as participate in two public performances, submit regular assignments, fill out questionnaires, attend mandatory evening events, and keep a sleep and nutrition schedule. The professors were all friendly and very welcoming to include Erasmus students in their classes. The sports institute in Valencia has very modern outdoor facilities (including volleyball, soccer, basketball and tennis courts) also the university sports program is very distinctive from surfing classes to salsa classes. Looking back, I can say that I really enjoyed the courses at the Sports Institute and would always choose these two faculties again.

Life and leisure
Valencia is a flat city and it is very pleasant to travel by bike. At first I thought about buying my own bike, but I was told that a lot of bikes are stolen. So I decided to use Valenbisi . This is a bike rental service that can be compared to the Kassler Konrad. For the use one pays only 30 € in the year. You can buy the card in the tobacconist's store or in the responsible office in the city center. I definitely recommend downloading the Valenbisi app, so that you can check on the road whether the Valenbisi station at your destination also has free seats. Generally, there is something going on in Valencia every day, even during the week. Especially at Blasco Ibanez there are many bars. Also the neighborhood El Carmen is one of my absolute favorites - especially in the evening. Valencia is a beautiful city, with many sights. Also near Valencia there are many places worth seeing like Xativer, Peniscola or Sagunto. I have used the Erasmus offers a few times and thus explored places that are rather difficult to reach without a car.

Conclusion
I would definitely choose Spain and the Universidad de Valencia again. And even though it was a bit annoying to bring forward all the exams of the third semester, I would always choose the summer semester again. Because apart from the fantastic weather, you can't miss the Fallas in March. This is a festival in which the city is in a state of emergency and all Spaniards gather in the center. In addition to many concerts in the streets, there are also almost daily fireworks or  Mascletas. In addition, the university is closed at this time, because you have Fallas vacations. Furthermore, you have two weeks of Easter vacations in April, during which I traveled to Morocco with a friend, for example, which I can also recommend to everyone! I was also very satisfied with the courses I chose. I would recommend choosing four or five courses. If you also want to take the language course at the Centro de Idiomas, I would even recommend only 4 courses, because usually all courses are 4 hours long. Regarding the university in general, I can say that the location is ingenious and an apartment at the Blasco Ibanez is absolutely recommendable, because you don't have a long way to the university and the beach is not far away. Since I have been learning and studying Spanish for several years, no other European country came into question for me and I had no big problems communicating. However, I think that even if you don't know Spanish, you won't have much trouble applying to Valencia, since the Universidad de Valencia also offers English courses. Personally, the stay abroad has brought me a lot. I feel much more confident in using the language. Also, I have never lived in a shared apartment before and see this as an exciting experience as well.

Preparation (planning, organization and application at the host university)
I decided to do a semester abroad in Spain in the summer of 2011. Since I study teaching profession L3 with the subjects biology and sports science, I decided for the subject sports science, because I did not speak Spanish very well at that time. I asked Mr. Kibele if it was possible to do a semester abroad in Spain, because until then there was no cooperation agreement with a Spanish university. Mr. Kibele said that it was possible in principle, I should inform myself at which universities one can study sports science and at the same time inquire at the international office whether it was possible to conclude a cooperation agreement. After a long search on the Internet, I found 2 universities in Madrid where you can study sports science and contacted the international office with this information. After a few weeks, I received an e-mail informing me that there was a cooperation agreement with 2 universities in Madrid and that I could now apply. I chose the Universidad Politècnica de Madrid and filled out my online application (which you can find on the homepage of the Institute of Sports and Sport Sciences). I also attended the information session of the Institute of Sport and Sport Sciences, which takes place every year in November. At the same time I applied for the LLP-Erasmus program (online application can be found on the homepage, as well as a checklist, which documents are needed and which deadlines have to be met). Normally, you are informed at the beginning of February whether you have received a place at the partner university, but since the summer semester in Madrid already begins at the end of January, I was already informed at the beginning of January. Now I had to choose courses at the partner university and discuss with the respective lecturers in Germany whether the requirements of the partner university were the same as those of the university in Kassel in order to have them credited to me. I also contacted the international office at the partner university to discuss how I could enroll in the courses there. Lastly, I booked my flight. Overall, I planned my semester abroad from July to early December, and I started applying online in December. I also needed a health insurance for my semester abroad, which is offered by many health insurance companies especially for semesters abroad.

Accommodation
Fortunately, the search for accommodation was relatively easy, because at the end of January a German student in Madrid moved out of an apartment and the Spanish roommate (whose mother owned the apartment) was looking for a new tenant and informed the international office in Madrid. If you are not so lucky, there are several ways to find apartments on the Internet. On the one hand, there is the website www.idealista.com, but you can also often find apartments in groups on Facebook. The groups are called: German in Madrid, Erasmus Madrid, ESN Complutense Madrid and also on the homepage of German in Madrid new flatmates are often searched. Since the life next to the university is mostly in the center, I would advise to look for an apartment near Sol. I initially lived a little outside and had to take the metro 40 minutes to the center. Therefore I moved after 3 months. I lived in Lavapiès, which is rather a cheaper neighborhood because of the high percentage of foreigners. Lavapiès is only a 5 minute walk from the center and I was also impressed by the flair there. I lived directly on the Plaza de Lavapiès where every day and every night something is going on.
But also other places around Sol are popular with students, but I would always advise to look at the apartment beforehand, because in my second apartment search, the pictures and the descriptions on the Internet were not even remotely comparable to the real situation. In Madrid it is common that the rooms are furnished and have a size of 8 to a maximum of ^10m2 . Often there are rooms without windows (I had one of those) which is unbearable in the summer because you sleep at about 35°C. 

Studying at the host university
Normally there are introduction days for foreign students at the University Politecnica de Madrid, where everything is explained and shown. However, since I still had exams to write at that time, I arrived in Madrid a week late. I got in touch with Mr. Carlos Monedero Pérez, who took me on a one-on-one tour of the university the next day and explained everything else (fortunately in English). For the respective courses that I had chosen, I got cards that I had to hand in with a photo to the lecturers.
At the university in Madrid, you don't normally choose your courses like in Germany, but there are "cohorts" who take certain courses every semester. However, since I wanted to take courses from different semesters, I got to know the students from the first to the last semester (very funny but at the beginning also difficult to remember all the names). Also, all courses are held twice a week. Some are divided into A-F courses because of the high number of students. For example, the A course Basketball takes place on Monday and Thursday. If you have to take 2 different courses because of overlaps, you can always discuss this with the respective lecturer on site. The list of courses can be found in the university or on the following page. 
The courses are all in Spanish, some lecturers explain the most important things again in English but most of the time they only teach in Spanish.
Since the university already starts at the end of January, the lectures and courses end at the end of May, after that the exam period starts.
Besides sports, I also took a language course that is offered by the university. You can find more information about it on this page. 

Everyday life and free time
Madrid is a city where you can do and experience things 24 hours a day. If you want to see the sights and the most beautiful places of the city, you can join a free tour, meeting point and everything else you can find here: . 
The cost of living in Spain is the same as in Germany, food and drink costs the same, cosmetics are much more expensive, but you can store cheaper and 2 times a year there are the rebajas (discount).
Since Madrid is unfortunately not located at the sea I always went to the Parque del Retiro. 
Actually, there is officially no time difference when you fly to Spain, but you should adjust to the habits of the Spaniards. I never ate breakfast in the half year I was there, lunch is only available from 2-4 and when I went out to eat with Spaniards in the evening, it was usually at 11. Afterwards, depending on the weather, people usually meet at the Templo de Debod for a botellon (pre-drinking). Normally, drinking alcohol in public is prohibited in Spain, but almost no one pays attention to this, it is even still canned beer for 1 euro sold by Chinese from plastic bags. Since everything takes place a little later, the entrance to the disco is still free until 1:30 am, before that you don't meet anyone anyway. Most Spaniards go partying from 3 o'clock in the morning. During the week there is an Erasmus party every Wednesday at Cafè Orange or Club Gabana, on Thursdays we were always at Disco Kapital or Joy. Before you go partying you have to register for the event, for this there are countless groups on Facebook that send new events every day. If you don't like House, Reggeaton and Hip Hop, you will find thousands of possibilities to party. Around Sol you are always invited for a free shot in small clubs or discos, so a bar tour is also worthwhile. On the other hand, you should stay away from the police, my experience was that the police do not ask what's going on, as they do here, but they beat you with their rubber truncheons. Even if you need help because your hand or money was stolen, you have to plan at least 3 hours at the station. Luckily I never had anything stolen but 80% of my friends didn't have an iPhone after Madrid.
I also had to get used to the baguette in Madrid, Spaniards eat baguette in the morning, at noon and in the evening, after half a year I was infinitely looking forward to normal bread. 

Conclusion (best and worst experience)
My best experience in Madrid was the hospitality and joie de vivre of the Spaniards. Through the Erasmus parties, we were a group with people from all over the world and one night we met in a small bar a bit out of the center. A friend of mine ordered the best liquor he had from the waiter (there was only one waiter and one bartender) and drank with us and the waiter to the great evening. Two days later I went with her again to the same bar and the waiter recognized us immediately and waved to us with the bottle of "Bilbao". He sat down at the table with us and celebrated the rest of the evening with us. The bartender also sat down with us later . I often experienced such moments in Madrid, you could sit down somewhere in the middle of the city and after 10 minutes at the latest I was talking to complete strangers, some of whom also became my friends.

My worst experience was with one of my roommates. In my second apartment, I lived with a Spaniard, a Moroccan and a Lebanese woman for the last 10 days. The Spaniard had a housewarming party with his friends, which was also quite fun. BUT: the big problem was that 20 people in a 60sqm apartment leave a lot of dirt after a party. The party was on Sunday and my departure day was Wednesday, between these days the Spaniard had locked himself in his room and let the rest of the flatmates live in his filth. We didn't have a clean plate, cup or pot left. Our bathroom looked worse than the dirtiest toilet you can find in a flophouse and the refrigerator just screamed disgust. I had my compartments under his and the only thing in his compartment was a moldy melon whose moldy juice dripped onto my things. Therefore, my worst experience was the state of hygiene in my apartment.

"St. John's - Newfoundland" Where is that? Aaah, east coast Canada?cool!? This was the reaction of all the people I told about my planned semester abroad in St. John's. And it was exactly this degree of unfamiliarity (remoteness?!) that magically attracted me. Toronto/Ottawa/Montreal ? everyone had heard that before. But who can claim to have spent a semester abroad in St. John's? Not so many ;). But St. John's (by the way, not to be confused with Saint John in New Brunswick -> eyes open when booking the flight ;)) has a lot to offer - historically and culturally as well as in the outdoor area. It is the oldest city in North America, in 1901 the first transatlantic radio signal was received on Signal Hill, St. John's, Cape Spear, the most easterly point in North America (!), is located only about 15 km from the city center and last but not least it was the coast of Newfoundland off which the Titanic sank in 1912. Apart from that, in spring/summer icebergs "swim" by and you can watch whales and puffins. With a little luck you can also see one of about 150000 moose. Newfoundland is also located so far east that the island even has its own time zone (-4.30h to Germany).

Hospitality, helpfulness and cordiality are written in capital letters in Newfoundland. Not only are shopping bags packed for you in the supermarket or you are greeted and smiled at in a friendly manner everywhere, but you are also immediately invited to your respective home (even for an overnight stay). If there is a problem, you get help and support from several sides. Thanks to Alan (who was still on site during my planning phase) I had found a really nice WG and lived so privately. However, there is also the possibility to stay in a room in a student dormitory(http://www.mun.ca/hfcs/). However, I would advise everyone to stay in a (Canadian) shared apartment, because this way you can experience and get to know the (everyday) Canadian life and culture much better and more intensively. 

Since I arrived about four weeks before the start of the semester, I had enough time to clarify organizational matters (enrolling in courses, introducing myself to lecturers) and to explore the surroundings in and around St. John?s. As already mentioned above, there is a lot to see. If you don't want to come "just" to study, it is worthwhile to arrive a few weeks before the semester starts or to stay a few weeks after the semester ends. Depending on how many courses you take, you will be quite busy during the semester. The Canadian system differs from the German system in that the individual courses take place several times a week. The teaching time for the theoretical courses is usually "only" 50 minutes, but then three times a week. You are not allowed to take more than six courses (at least not in the sports area). I started with five courses, but then reduced them to four in the third week (two practical and two theory courses). The workload was nevertheless not without, since per course several "small" examinations and study achievements in the form of tasks or essays as well as in each case two examinations (1x midterm/1x final exam) result. But above all the stress of university, one should not forget why one actually came to St. John's: namely to get to know another country, its culture and way of life!

By the way, I can especially recommend the course "Summer Outdoor Activities". Besides short units on golf and softball, the focus is on canoeing and hiking. Topics include the use of compasses and hiking maps as well as behavior, handling and survival in the great outdoors. Included is also a three-day canoe trip, on which the learned can be used then also directly practically.

Apart from the activities already mentioned, there are many, many possibilities in and around St. John's, especially in the area of sports. Unfortunately, I was not able to experience ice hockey (Canada's official winter national sport) (live) during the summer. However, there are many opportunities to go canoeing and kayaking or to participate in guided tours (e.g. whale watching). Beginner and advanced courses are offered for example by  PaddleCanada (http://www.paddlingcanada.com/). I myself have taken the Sea Kayak Level 1 course and can only recommend it! Apart from canoeing/kayaking, hiking is also very popular among Newfoundlanders. In and around St. John's there is a very distinctive hiking network. Length and difficulty vary depending on the route. Many hiking trails lead past spectacular (and absolutely worth seeing) coastal sections. If you don't want to go it alone, you can join organized hikes (usually on weekends)(http://eastcoasttrail.ca/scheduled_hikes/). Rock climbing in and around St. John's is a great way to get your money's worth. If you prefer indoor climbing or a beginner's course, Wallnuts is the place to go(http://www.wallnutsclimbing.com/).

Besides the sports offer, which by the way is also very good at the university(http://www.theworksonline.ca/, free access to most offers for students), the nightlife in St. John's is not to be despised. The George Street "St. John's party mile" offers some possibilities. However, the beer and especially the long drink prices are quite expensive. Also the "public drinking", which is a matter of course in Germany, is a "no-go" in Canada/the USA.

Who would like to get to know something of Newfoundland outside St. John's, first of all Gros Morne National Park (http://www.grosmorne.com/) is recommended, which captivates by its unbelievable beauty. The park is located about 700km away from St. John's (at the other end of Newfoundland), but is definitely worth a visit. Countless hiking trails, canoe and/or kayak routes lead through breathtaking landscapes and to spectacular views. In addition, the park offers a great opportunity for wildlife viewing (e.g. moose and/or black bears, to name the most spectacular). Gros Morne is the second largest national park in Atlantic Canada and is a World Heritage Site. If you don't have quite as much time, you can also go to Terra Nova National Park (http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/nl/terranova/index.aspx), which is only about 300km from St. John's.

All in all, I can only recommend a semester abroad. I would describe the half year in Canada as the best in my life so far. I was able to gain a lot of positive experiences there, learned a lot about myself and made super good friends. If I had had the opportunity, I would have stayed there, at least for another semester. Therefore: TAKE THIS CHANCE BY THE SHOP AND APPLY!!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!

If you still have questions, need help/support for the application process or maybe want to make first contacts: talk/write to me, I'm happy to help you(Tina.Knackstedt[at]gmx[dot]net).

All the best and toi toi toi,

Tina

"Semester abroad?"-  "Yeah, sure, but how do you organize something like that? And where do I want to go?". I asked myself these two initial questions before one of my greatest experiences. 

When I walked into the gym one morning and saw the notice about a semester abroad in a foreign country, I immediately wanted to apply for one of those places. With the kind help of Mr. Kibele and other fellow students who had gone through this application process before, it wasn't too hard to master this bureaucratic part of the preparation. The closer it got to the application deadline, the more excited I got, because I was hoping for a unique chance to study abroad. My decision was easy to apply for the place in St. John's, because I love nature and Canada was and still is one of my dream (travel) destinations. 

After I got the confirmation that I got the place in Newfoundland, the joy was boundless and the preparations started. 

What should I take with me? Where should I live? How cold will it be? And do I have to apply for a visa? These were just a few questions that ran through my head, but they were answered and explained to me in detail by my predecessors. Furthermore, I was lucky that a Canadian exchange student (Josh Howard) started his semester abroad at our faculty shortly before. Because of our very good and close friendship, many tasks and questions on the other side of the ?big pond? were taken off my shoulders. 

When I sat in the plane on August 2nd and left Germany behind me, the excitement and anticipation was enormous. I could hardly wait to get to know the culture and people of Newfoundland. I had been told before that Newfoundlanders are some of the nicest and most helpful people on earth and this statement was confirmed to me every day of my exchange. After arriving in St. John?s I went directly to the apartment, which was rented in advance by Josh and which had no furnishings missing. 

Since I arrived in St. John?s 4 weeks before the semester started, I had enough time to explore the city and the surrounding area. The next and most important step after my arrival was to introduce myself at Memorial University and to clarify all formalities. After a few days all these questions were solved and I was now an official student in MUN (Memorial University of Newfoundland). On the advice of Sebastian Plewe, I dialed in with a set of five courses for the Fall Session. I took 2 practical and 3 theory courses, in which I was very warmly received. All my TA?s and professors introduced me and new friends were made very quickly. This number of courses is in my opinion the right amount for a study abroad student to get to know the way of life and to make and maintain social contacts. Books and other materials that I needed for my courses were either shared with my classmates or purchased second-hand from other students. In this regard, buying and selling used class materials from the pre-semester is a great way to relieve the strapped vacation fund. 

The first campus tour was very impressive and I could not believe in which environment I would study the next months. Thanks to the tuition fees (which we fortunately did not have to pay), a beautiful and very appealing campus could be built. Especially us sports students had great possibilities and conditions not only in our practical courses but also in the theory courses. The Physical Education Department has the latest technologies in research and the equipment needed for the practical courses was at a top level. Dr. Behm, who was the contact person for me, always helped me and showed me the entire campus. The openness and responsiveness of all faculty members was more than impressive and a great help to get started successfully. One of my greatest and also most unique experiences was playing for, the Sea~Hawks, the university team. After a triage, I was accepted into the Sea~Hawks football team and was part of a great community. We practiced 5 times a week, even twice a day in preparation. You can imagine it just like you see in American movies. The support and recognition as a university athlete is absolutely impressive and I have never noticed such support as an athlete before. We flew to away games, stayed in hotels, and I even had to memorize and sing the Canadian national anthem for our games. All my teammates supported me during my time and it helped me tremendously to integrate into society. I think being able to play this event was one of the best experiences I've had in my life up to this point. Furthermore, it helped me to pursue my hobby and to develop myself as a sportsman. To this day, I still have very good contact with my coach and all my teammates. 

In summary, I can say that this half year was one of my greatest and most exciting experiences and every student should seriously consider taking advantage of this opportunity. In addition to the development in the cognitive field, this time has also brought me a lot further humanly and broadened my horizons on the most diverse topics. I am available to anyone who wants to realize this goal and adventure and you are always welcome and encouraged to ask me your questions.

May ? August 2010

Snow and cold all year round, big dogs and lots of trees ? or also: ?Newfoundland? That is somewhere in the north, isn't it? This was the reaction I got when I told people about my plans to study at Memorial University in St. John?s for one semester. Admittedly, when I started to think about my stay abroad, I didn?t know much more  about this province of Canada. So I informed myself and was prepared for the above conversations: "No, it gets up to 30°C in summer", and "No, St. John's is on the latitude of Munich".

The decision to go there was easy for me; after all, you probably only get the chance once to get to know such an exotic destination so well and at the same time to combine the pleasant with the useful, i.e. in addition to lots of new impressions, experiences, fun and adventures, you can also further your professional education. 

Since my second subject is English, I was able to kill two birds with one stone by spending time in an English-speaking country and taking courses (also in English, of course) from the department of Human Kinetics and Recreation, which I can have credited to my sports studies in Kassel.

The structure of the courses is a bit different than in Germany: It is recommended to take five courses for the summer session (including intersession) and it is good to stick to this guideline. I would especially like to recommend the course "Introduction to Outdoor Recreation" by TA Loeffler, which should make every sports enthusiast and outdoor enthusiast's heart beat faster: the program includes hiking trips with lots of tips and tricks from map reading (did you know that the green areas on maps are only allowed to be green when the vegetation is so dense that a certain number of soldiers could seek cover from the enemy) to orientation with the compass to the question why almost all waters in Newfoundland are reddish. You'll also be climbing a cliff face directly above the sea, the biggest problem being to focus on the climbing and not on the whales playing with each other, shooting fountains of water into the air and slapping their fins on the water. Admittedly, you don't have a ?whale guarantee? there either, but the chances are not bad and it worked out for me?

Other highlights of this course include kayaking on the ocean and a three-day camping excursion into the Newfoundland wilderness. 

If you decide to arrive with a suitcase and not a big trekking backpack, or if you don't have room for a sleeping bag, sleeping pad and such, you can easily borrow everything at the university for free. This service is really worth its weight in gold and I have used it several times. You can also get equipment here if you want to travel privately for a few days (as long as the equipment is not in use by the university).

A highlight on campus is the "Field House". Here you will find fitness rooms, squash courts, badminton courts, table tennis tables, a basketball court, a swimming pool and a 200m indoor running track; all under one roof right next to the seminar rooms. The use is free of charge during the semester and is a really good opportunity to get fit.

But also outside of the university I had a very positive experience. I quickly realized that hospitality is very important there. So it was no problem to make contacts. Since the atmosphere at the university during the summer semester (approx. 1500 students) is somewhat familiar and the percentage of international students in the department was very low, one knew "The Germans" quite quickly and after my fellow student from Kassel and I went to house parties once and then to George Street, we felt quite well integrated. George Street is the party mile of St. John?s. Here you can find the highest density of bars and clubs per area in Canada. There is everything your heart desires from dance clubs to Irish pubs and about five to six times a week mostly admission-free live music. The musical spectrum here ranges from typical Newfoundland folk music, which is very similar to Irish folk, to mainstream rock. In fact, it's usually the case that several artists play in different bars on the same night, so you're spoiled for choice. All in all, the party scene in St. John?s is a bit different from the German one and is worth the trip alone.

But the hospitality of the Newfoundlanders went well beyond that. My buddy Philip and I were able to experience this several times. We were welcomed into friends' homes and invited on weekend trips that were really great; for example, a kayak tour along Newfoundland's rugged but wonderful coastline. Everything was organized for us, kayaks provided, a place to sleep and and and.... During the trip we saw countless bald eagles, a caribou, a sea otter family and dolphins.

Outside of St. John's it is not easy to get around in Newfoundland without a car, but even here we got a lot of support: A lecturer simply lent us his second car for a tour. We paid with a currency that is not uncommon there: a bottle of screech. Your contact person, Dr. Behm, is as helpful as one can be and he gave us the chance to get a taste of research after the regular semester. We worked with him on a project about the effects of different types of stretching on performance.

Maybe I should say something about the living situation: I lived directly on campus in ?Burton?s Pond Apartments? during the whole semester. It consists of four quite functional rooms for four people, an open kitchen with living area and a bathroom. This solution is definitely the most uncomplicated and quite practical in terms of location. It's a five-minute walk to the Phys-Ed building, where events are held and the Field House is located, and to Long Pond, which is great for jogging and fishing. It takes about twenty minutes to walk to George Street downtown, which is perfectly fine, even if the way back usually takes a bit longer? Besides, cabs are comparatively cheap.

As an alternative to the apartment solution on campus, it is also possible to book into a hostel for a few days (from $25 CAN/night) and look for a private apartment or room on site.

Looking back, I can only say that the time in Newfoundland has brought me an incredible amount, personally and professionally, that I have experienced many great things and above all that I could meet great people. The semester abroad is absolutely an experience that everyone should have and that I would definitely not want to miss.

As soon as I saw the pictures on the poster and visited the homepage of Memorial University, I knew that I wanted to spend my semester abroad in Newfoundland/Canada. The preparations were made quickly and also the application for a scholarship went smoothly thanks to all the help from Prof. Dr. Kibele (even if unfortunately nothing came of it afterwards). A student who had already been there last year was able to answer a lot of questions and help me with the planning (what to take with me, what is wiser to buy on site, etc.). So I felt very well prepared and could fully concentrate on the anticipation.
Already from the plane I could see the coast and forests, because of which I chose this place of study. Since I arrived a few days before the semester started, I spent the first days alone in the 4-room apartment. In the first moment it was not so easy, because the apartment was like a furnished apartment (furniture and a mattress were there, but the rest was not). And to bring bedding (including pillow and blanket), towels, pots, toilet paper, etc. from Germany is not so easy. So the first thing I did was a shopping trip to get the most basic stuff (pillow, blanket, sheets, a pot, 1x dishes, toilet paper etc.). Cheers to Sears and Dollarama in the nearby mall. Over the next few days, there was some organizing to do: Registering with the international student office, registering my health insurance, introducing myself to Prof. Behm, who also showed me around, etc. And of course, I started to explore the campus and the area.
It's amazing how different a campus in North America is (thanks to tuition fees, I have to be honest ? good thing I didn't have to pay them). All buildings, including the dorms and apartments are in one place, as is a university center with a huge university store (from pencils to folders and sports gear to underwear, you can find everything there with the university logo), food cart, pharmacy and doctors. All in one house. In addition, of course, the huge library with several PC and Internet places, the Work House with indoor running track, gym, swimming pool, squash courts and 3 indoor courts for badminton, table tennis, basketball, aerobics or similar. courts. Next door was also an adventure-oriented swimming pool. Of course everything is free for students, they pay enough. Directly adjacent to the university is also a lake and forest area, so you can go running wonderfully. As  Jan had already said when he came back: 'Now I am in absolute top form'. 
My flatmates slowly arrived 2 days later at the weekend. They brought then also everything with what a dwelling needs in such a way around alive to become: Kitchen appliances, pots, toaster, microwave, TV, posters etc. Now life came into the place. The two girls came from Newfoundland, one from the next bigger town, Gander and one from McCallum, a fishing village of 80 souls in the south of Newfoundland. We got along very well right away and quickly became friends and did everything together. So I had the opportunity to get to know Newfoundland like a Newfoundlander. I spent the midterm vacations in McCallum, where I got to know the country and its people, went salmon fishing and was served typical food (codfish, scallops in bacon, rhubarb pie, and many typical snacks). Then with my other roommate I went to stay with her family in Gander at the end of the semester. It was a great experience and I can only recommend to each of you: Don't look for other Germans (because you can find them in Germany as well) but make friends with the 'locals'. This way you will get to know the country and the people better, experience more and have more fun (I speak from experience ;-) ).
The courses I attended were also an experience in themselves. Especially the course "Introduction to Outdoor Recreation" by TA Loeffler, which is an absolute must at Memorial University. On the very first day, I went on a five-hour hike in the surrounding woods. 10 minutes by bus and you get the feeling that you are far away from noise, hustle and bustle and civilization. We hiked literally over hill and dale (otherwise we wouldn't have been able to get through the mud/water) and sometimes had to build our own crossing to be able to cross a small stream. During the breaks we learned how to dress according to the situation, how to pack a backpack properly and how to read maps. So the course generally built up, a lot of practice hiking (on the East Coast Trail), canoeing, climbing, orienteering (in the snow and that at the end of May) and in addition map reading, finding your way with a compass, how not to leave tracks and the like. In the process, we were able to check off a few items on our sightseeing list, or rather our "What would I like to experience in Canada" list. A special highlight was a sea kayaking tour where we were on the sea, got to know animals and plants and also tried some sea urchin eggs directly out of the water (costs some effort, but is very tasty). The absolute highlight was of course our backpacking trip into the wilderness. Armed with a large hiking backpack weighing about 25 kg and containing everything we needed for survival (tent, sleeping bag, pot, dishes, clothes for wind and weather, pocket knife, camping stove, toilett kit and a few food items) we set off. Ahead of us lay a route of 14 km over hill and dale and the one or other mountain and stream. We camped in the middle of the forest, near a lake and a fireplace (i.e. a few stones), no shower, toilet or similar luxury. We stayed there for two nights and spent the time with some presentations about team building, lighting a fire without a lighter, baking with a camping stove (there were cinnamon buns, yammee), edible plants, cloud science and similar topics. If you had to go to the toilet (which happens in 3 days) you could dig a hole (without leaving any traces of course) and you washed yourself in the ice cold lake. Back to basics :-) A unique experience, which I will never forget (also because of the scars of the 150!! mosquito bites), but I was looking forward to the pizza, which my roommates had already prepared for my return.
Of course, the other seminars could not keep up with this (because they were theory-heavy), but they were also very interesting and had one or two "bonbons" in store. For example, we were allowed to visit the Med School with the seminar "Fitness and Wellness" and there we were allowed to look at real organs (and who wanted to touch them with gloves). It was about the comparison of healthy organs (heart, kidney, liver, lung, stomach) and the sick equivalents (smoker's lung, alcoholic liver, etc.) Absolutely fascinating and some of us drank a glass less or gave up cigarettes that evening.
All in all, the semester went by way too fast and I would have loved to stay longer. If I had been single, I would have definitely taken advantage of the offer to do my master's or PhD there, because one thing was clear to me: If I ever emigrate, it will be to Canada!
I took an incredible amount with me from the semester and it's not just about knowledge or intercultural experiences. I made good friends with whom I still have a lot of contact today. And I promised them and their families to visit them again in the next 5 years.
Would I make the same decision again? Absolutely!!! Would I recommend Memorial University to others? Absolutely, I would love to go back myself. You can always go on vacation to America, Australia or Italy. But who would think of taking a vacation in Newfoundland? Only the fewest, so grab the chance by the neck, you will love it!